Huddersfield Giants • Dreadful - Watson's future?

For once there seems to be a fair amount of unity in so far as considering the abilities, or perhaps more accurately shortcomings, of the players (and to some degree the coach).

Since our bubble burst in 2015 when Grix failed to deal with the kick through for Ryan Hall to score, we have had one cracking season (2022), the second half of which was even blighted by injuries and ended in a whimper.

What did we have two years ago? An out and out hooker with speed an, ability to commit defenders by running out of dummy half and firing out a quality pass.

What have we now at 9? A hooker/loose forward who strengthens our defence in the middle but poses so few questions of the opposition. Or a utility player with heaps of enthusiasm but sometimes erratic distribution. Or a fullback/ halfback. Or our only out and out hooker, brought from Roosters system, who can't get in ahead of the aforementioned players. Nobody, it seems, who can do what Levi could; I appreciate what Milner and particularly Golding bring to the side, but it's what they don't bring that is the issue. Perhaps instead of hookers we should rename our 9s escorts...

Jamie Jones Buchanan has made a list of his top 5 hookers in the league - all of them can get moving out of dummy half. Seriousaboutrl.com (not everyone's cup of tea, granted) have submitted a separate list and it will come as a surprise to nobody that none of our hookers/ semi-hookers are included in either list.

With speed (feet and passing) at 9 we were able to increase pressure on the opposition and ask questions of them. Without it, at least as I see it, the limitations of Russell are further exposed. An over-used platitude in football commentary is that a player has not performed to his own high standards. Prior to HKR I thought Russell had played well this season - for his own standards. Unfortunately those standards aren't, in my eyes, sufficiently high enough for the level we - at least we in the stands - aspire to reach. How I wish they were...

We could talk about his non-jump for their try, his utterly-infuriating attempt to tackle by holding the opponent's head with two hands, but the issue is he has no speed of movement and little creativity. This should come as no revelation, but we persist with him. I won't fault his work effort, I just don't feel that he offers enough to be first choice.

Connor has been knocked for his lack of pace but he can create something out of nothing. And with him, Clune (I'm not criticizing him; he's looked useful other than last week) and Russell it is fair to say we aren't blessed with out and out pace. Combined with the lack of speed coming away from acting half back, it is understandable why, as some have said, we are too predictable.

It would be remiss not to comment on the forwards' contributions this season too. The positives: Leroy has been fantastic... Erm... Murchie looks promising... Stretching things a bit now... Rushton looks in good shape for his first hit out. The negatives: Hill aside (other than last week) we don't have a prop who can make metres. Marsters made more than them combined last week. English does very few metres when not out with HIA and Wilson doesn't do too many more despite some strong looking carries. Seb is able knock one or two out the way with his carries but those runs are far too few in number; otherwise he is steady away like all the others.

Murchie seems handy but Hewitt to me is another who works hard, albeit not making too many metres, and as an Academy player is one I would love to see succeed, but I doubt he would be in the first choice 17 of any other club with serious aspirations of making the top six.

Last week I thought our problem was as much to do with the lack of composure and unacceptable level of unforced errors, both with and without the ball. Errors which would frustrate at Underbank Under 19s where my dad used to play. I tried to take a glass half full approach from the Saints game (eventually) as we competed well despite looking utterly clueless in attack. After our start against Wigan we didn't look a bad side (though a good side surely wouldn't have started as slowly). But glass half full or empty against HKR, it would have to take something pretty strong to help take positives away from last Saturday. Here's one, admittedly at a push. Despite our deficiencies, we will look much better (and have half a chance at creating some pressure) if we cut out - or even just cut down on - our ludicrous mistakes on the field. Off the pitch with the coaching staff? That'll take something stronger still.